Vol. 519 No. 7
63 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the situation with regard to the regulation of leisure craft, boats and so on, going out to sea without flares, radios, radar and life jackets and carrying alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14774/00]
64 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has to implement regulations pertaining to leisure craft which venture out in deep waters without any emergency equipment such as radar, flares or life jackets and then get into difficulties and require the emergency services to be called out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14775/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.
On the issue of safety on leisure craft, as the Deputies are aware, the action group on small powered recreational craft, including personal watercraft, recently presented me with its final report. This report made a number of recommendations including some in respect to the carriage and use of lifejackets, carriage of safety equipment and consumption of alcohol. On the basis of this, I am currently proposing the introduction of a legislative framework for the regulation of recreational craft. This is being achieved through amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act, 1992 which are included in the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Bill, 1999. The Bill passed the Dáil Report and Final Stages on 24 May 2000.
The Bill foresees the implementation of regulations to take account not only of the safety of the passengers and occupants of the vessels in question but also the safety of other persons resulting from the use of the vessels and any disturbance or nuisance caused by their usage.
